Football

As many of you know, football season is well under way. With two games down and eight to go we've had some rough spots in the season already. Nevertheless...I love this time of year. I love the excitement and the competition. I love the candy and the atmosphere we are privileged to be a part of every Saturday. I love the popcorn. I love the cow bells ringing and the crowd yelling. I love football.

Football has been a part of my life since I can remember. When I was 2 Andy would have started playing Jr. High football...and with the exception of two years in Turkey I have been a part of every fall season of football. People always ask if I get sick of it, and I answer, "how can I get sick of something that has become a part of who I am?" It must be in my blood.

Since getting married I've made an attempt to photograph some of the games. I am a very amateur photographer who has read a couple of blogs, one book, and asked a ton of questions. I'm not that good...I am learning...and I love it. My favorite pics are of my niece and nephew who are on the sidelines every game. When the offense or defense comes off of the field, he goes right to their huddle and hands each of them a towel to wipe their sweaty faces. Emma usually is giving them water and both make sure that the boys are taken care of. The amazing part is I just can't seem to capture the awe and respect in Caleb's face as he watches these huge boys play a sport that he loves. Last Saturday I got a few snapshots of him. They are both pictures taken while his dad's defense is on the field. He is a coach and player in the making.

All of this to say...I'm having more fun this year because I know a tiny bit more about photography than I did last season and it gives me something to do during the game so I don't chew my fingernails off!

Words

I absolutely love words. Don't get me wrong...I am not a person with a high vocabulary. As soon as I look a word up I forget its meaning and if asked what a words means I can only give a guess within context clues. BUT...I love words. I think that people who write creatively are the ones who can take a word that no one uses and make it sound academic and understandable at the same time.

My favorite place to find these types of luscious uses are in "The Economist." Okay...it sounds absolutely boring. In fact when I first heard about this great magazine from my friend, Mara, I turned up my nose as well. She, of course, told me to just read it before I judged it by its name...and I was hooked. My experience with "The Economist" was limited to my two years living in Turkey and airports...until recently. I just subscribed to the economist this fall and upon reading one of my first issues I fell in love all over again! Regardless of your first impression...the magazine is not simply about the economy...I'm not that smart. It's actually a magazine not unlike TIME or Newsweek...ONLY IT'S BETTER WRITING!

For example, in an article this week about the American presidential race the author said that the American "economy is in the doldrums." DOLDRUMS? Who uses that word anymore??? Not to mention it was perfectly placed in the midst of a political article. Seriously, the author also said that Obama had "unsavoury friends." UNSAVOURY? I've never heard it phrased like that...but it works! Oh...and one of my all-issue favorites...he refered to McCain's campaign having "populist piffle." PIFFLE??? Again...I tell you...I get more enjoyment out of the words rather than the information. I mean...who uses the word 'alas' anymore? And yet it gives this newspaper magazine a Shakespearean beauty that maybe only an English teacher can appreciate.

I will admit that there are articles that I read and have absolutely no idea what it's about...I'm just looking for great writing and I've enjoyed every moment of reading today.

I knew it would be a wonderful day of promise when I drove to work and saw the most respendant rainbow...full rainbow...this morning. It was a savory moment. Who could have the doldrums when God's promises are never full of populist piffle...but only truth!

Happy Friday!